last night he silenced those critics. today we're here in virginia. this may be his biggest rally yet. this campaign is re-energized. >> it's great to be with you. let's get out there and win. thank you! >> reporter: eager to capitalize on the debate, his campaign arranged for rom flee to make a surprise appearance this morning before the colorado conservative political action conference where he talked up his debate performance. >> last night i thought was a great opportunity for the american people to see 22 very different visions for the country. and i think it was-- it was helpful to be able to tribe those visions. i saw the president's vision as trickle-down government. and i don't think that's what america believes in. >> reporter: romney used the trickle-down government phrase for the first time in the debate, saying the president believed in more government, big spending, and higher taxes calling his policies a failure. >> under the president's policies, middle-income americans have been buried. they're-- they're just being crushed. middle-inc